Gas-producing composition.



Louis-e HARRIS, or GANNING, i NovA sooTIA, CANADA.

eAs-rnonuomecoMPosrrIoN.

Specification of Izetters" Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed January 1l,-I9Q6. SerialNo- 295,627.

To all whom it may concemfi Be it known that I, LOUIS G1 HA RIs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residingv at Canning, in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Producing Compositions, of which the followilng' is a specification. I i

The object of this invention is to produce a composi} tion of matter which is suitable for producing from kitchen garbagelor other similar refuse material-by distillation a combustible gas which isyof great value both as an illuminant and as fuel. I 1

In practicing my inventionl proceed as follows:

I preparea preliminary liquid mixture containing,' approxiinately, equal parts, byweight, of vitriol, preferablyssulfate of iron, caustic potash and caustic lime. These ingredients are thoroughly mixed, preferably-by mixing them with a suitable quantity of hot water. For illustration, 4p unds'of-each of theseingredients may bemixed with about 40 poundsof water and, pref erably, a farinaeeous substance, for instance, a cheap grade of flour, is also added to the mixture in about the proportion'of 2 pounds of farinaceous 'materialto lo pounds of water. V This preliminary mixture is mixed," j

after cooling, with d0galldnsof-mineral oil, preferably A crude petroleum or some inexpensive derivative of 'pe-i troleum. The] omposition of matter so produced is added to tlie kitchen garbage or other refuse material in i about the prdportion of from'18 ,].0 gallons ofthe eomposition to 2000 pounds of garbage. The above mentioned proportions will give excellent results, but arel stated only approximatelyand may be varied'more or less as the nature of the garbage or other material andiother. considerations may render expedient. Y' Y The farinaceous matter aidsin causingfa thorough commin gling of the ingredients and a thorough emulsi fying of the composition contain'iiig'the ntliheral oil, the composition having approximately the consistency oi milk. The vitriol matriallyvinereases the brilliancy and illuminatingpower of the gaaftlie flame ofwhich is white andibrilliant', while it'h'as a greenish cast andis" ,the yitrioli is omitted.

This ingredientals aids in-the h v garbageduring the distillation 11d enders'the'vprogress". of thedistillation moi av form, Thetliiiie assists in" purifying; t ga and caustic "potash:

shortens the period"of distillationan enableslthelatter decomposition s a to b'e-carried on satisfactorily under a comparatively low degree of heat, approximately from 10001200' F. The caustic potash may be omitted, if desired, but this is notrecommended as the composition produces more satisfactory results when this ingredient is used.

This composition is especially desirable for use in connection with kitchen garbage but may also be used with good results in connection with other similar refuse or inexpensive organic matter, for instance, sawdust, manure, peat, &c. I The composition is mixed with or sprinkled upon th garbage or other material'in any suitable manner and i the mixture is then distilled in a suitable retort and the resulting gas superheated and'purified in any' suitable manner. The gas so produced is a brilliant illuminant, has-a h-igh calorific value, and is therefore very desirable both as illuminating and fuel gas. of the herein described composition to the garbage or The addition other material which is to be distilled aids greatly in the decomposition of this material, facilitates the liberation of the gas and enables the material to be distilled with a minimum expenditure of heat, greatly increases the volume of the gaswhich is produced from a given quantity of material and produces a gas which is readily "purified and which does not deposit sediment or condensa tionproducts in the pipes.

The gas so produced can be used either by itself or as an 'enricher for inferior gas.

y claim as my invention:

1. A composition of matter for admixture with garbage or other gasproducing material, comprising mineral oil, vitriol, and acaustic substance, substantially as set forth.

2. A composition of matter for'admixture with garbage or other gas producing material, comprising mineral oil,

vitriol, and a farinaceous substance, substantially as set forth. 3. A composition of matter for admixture with garbage v oroth er gas producing material, comprising mineral oil,

(vitriol, a caustic substance, and a farinaceous substance, substantially as set forth.

, 4. A composition. of matter for admixture with garbage (or other gas producing material, comprising mineral oil, Isultatecof iron, potash and lime, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 20th day of December, 1905.

LOUIS G. HARRIS.

, Witnesses: GnonenHrnn,

W.-B.-MACCRE. 

